Appointments (Hansard, 30 March 1994)

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

§ Mr. Lang
This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
825W

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment.

§ Mr. Lang
There is no set list of organisations or individuals that are consulted about appointments to bodies which are sponsored by my Department, although there may be specific legislative requirements regarding consultation in relation to appointments to a particular body.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in(a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons.

§ Mr. Lang
Appointments are made on the basis of aptitude and merit. No central record is kept of the political affiliation of those appointed to public bodies.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of Stare for Scotland what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.

§ Mr. Lang
There are no formal procedures. Given the qualities required of the holders of such posts however it is in practice unlikely that an individual with extreme political views would be appointed where his or her views would be relevant to the responsibilities of the post.

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist fcr the appointment, showing for each appointment(a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.

§ Mr. Lang
The Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" lists those public bodies sponsored by my Department at 1 April each year and indicates the number of appointments which I make to each body at 1 September. This publication also shows the level of remuneration, if any. Copies of the latest edition of this publication are available in the Library of the House. Information about the current appointees to these bodies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.